Apparatus for animated pictures.



PATEN'IIED SEPT. 24, 1907.

J. BIANGHI.

APPARATUS FOR. ANIMATED PICTURES.

APPLIOATIOI FILED AUG. 15, 1006.

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anuanl'ot a 0 a 0 M t w PATBNTED SEPT. 24, 1907.

J. BIANGHI.

APPLIOATIOI FILED AUG. 15, 1905.

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APPARATUS FOR ANIMATED PICTURES.

W6 hwoua PATENTED SEPT. 24, 1907.

J. BIANOHI. APPARATUS FOR ANIMATED PICTURES.

APPLIOATIOI FILED AUG. 15, 1 905.

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UNITED STATES PATENT O FICE.

JOSEPH BIANCHI, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW messy.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 15.1806- Sort-18o. 274.802-

}atented Sept. 24, 1907.

which the following is a specification.

My invention consists more especially of an improvement in the construction of the refracting solid body used for producing what is known as moving pictures and for which I obtained Letters Patent No. 708,303, issued S ept. 2nd, 1902.

The object of improvement consists in curving the faces of the (or solid body) in order to bring toa focusall the rays of light entering or trans- -mitted through the pictures on the picture band at the optical center to be properly taken up by the objective lens and projected on the scren without blur as it happens when a flat sided body or prism.

When using the apparatus for projection on screen I prefer using a six sided convex body. But when used as a slot machine or simply viewing the pictures I use a four sided conmve refracting body, as it answers the purpose at lem cost. This four sided concave body has a tendency to reduce the size of the picture so I use a convex lelis in front in to overcome this defect.

A further object of my invention provides for the adjusting of the feeding or sprocket drum with respect to the optical center or axis.

It also provides for connecting the feeding drum constantly with the operating gear while at the same time making it movable with'respect to the optical center.

The object of this improvement is to give an independent means for adjusting the picture at the optical atanangletothatshowninl ig. 1. Fig.3repressnts a transverse sectioml Fig. 4 represents aside elevation of a portion of the device in detached position. Fig.5'rspsessntshsctionalvi6wofaportibn ofthedeviceindehchsdpon'tion. Figorepresentsa Similar semi-amines partsinthefignrss. I

Referring'to the drawing. 1

. irameof suitahlsiusmhav i qarsarwall2andafront wall3. lnthefrontwallhphcsda lens'tuhe4having doubleoonvex 'lhhlsnsfn'ntsh provided with the time ehhiged front flat piece 8 upon whicha cap may be placed. In the rear of the lens tube and in substantial line with the center thereof, that is in the optical center, I place a rotatable refracting medium 10 which is in the general form of a prism mounted upon an axis 11 transverse to the optical axis of the lens, and consisting of an hexagonal body, .but

having slightly curved surfaces 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17.

This hexagonal body is mounted upon or'within aplate on frame 18 secured to the shaft 19 which shaft is rotatable within hearings in the frame at 20, 21 and 22 and is provided at its outer end with any. suitable lever handle 23. By means of this lever, the refracting body 10 is rotated by reason ofthe rotation of the shaft 19 so as to successively bring its various faces in proper positions with respect to the optical axis of the lens tube which is the optical axis of the system.

If desired I may provide clips 24 to amist in holding the revoluble refracting medium 10 and the plate 18 or cement, rivets or other desirable means may evidently be employed. Upon the shaft 19 I mount a gear 26 which meshes with a pinion 27 carried by the shaft 28 which is likewise mounted in hearings .in the frame members 29 and 30. Upon the same shaft 28, I'locate agear31whichmesheswithagear32 upontheshaft33 likewise mounted in the frame 30 as a bearing. Upon the same shaft 33, I place a pinion 34 which meshes withagear35separated fronishafts33and 36bymeans of links 37 and 38.' Upon the shaft 36, which is mount ed in the movable frame 39 is placed a gear 40 in such a manner that the gears 34, 35 and 40 are constantly retained in mesh by means of the link connection notwithstanding that the distance between the shafts 33 and 36 varies.

The box 39 is movable between the frame members 29 and 30 and is retained from side movement by the projections o'r teeth 44 to engage with the aperture in the band from which views are projected; 'In order to keep the banii; contact with this feeding drum and at the me time permit it to be movable theremounted a aim is, which it 4 from when desired, 1 provide a roller 45 having annulai'projections 46, which roller is movable towards and from the sprocket drum 43. The roller is carried upon arms47 shown Fig. 2 pivoted at 48 and is normally retainedin contact withthe drum 43 by spring 49 against theextension 50 of the mid arms 47. I provide rollers 51 and 52 between whichthebsnd'nguidedandrotainedatthemdof fis flnsloppositsto'tlltatwhichllcatethsfssd ing drum 43., The frame is provided with apertures 53 and 54'through which the band or strip 55 is adapted to travel on its way from one storage reel as 56 to the other 57. These rollers are mounted upon the shafts 58 and 59 carried in bearings 60- and 61 which are shown as mountedupon brackets 62 and 63 upon my frame 1. Intermediate the storage reels and preferably between the roller 52 and sprocket drum 43, place the convex rollers 64 and 65 for the purpose of giving a slight curva ture to the band so that as the film or band is passing the optical center, itis presented thereto in a curve '66 designates'a bar or rod which is in suitable connection with the movable frame 39 and which extends upwardly through the top of the casing 1, with which it is in threaded engagement, the end of-said rod 66 being provided with a suitable thumb-nut 67 so that said nut can be rotated in order to raise or lower the frame 39 and thus adjust the position of the drum 43 and with it the position of the film 55 in the optical center.

68 and 69 designate clutch members which are secured to the shaft 19 while between these clutch members and mounted to move on the shaft 19 are the pulleys 70 and 71 which are situated adjacent each other and have on their outer sides the clutch members 72 and 73 which are adapted, at the proper time, moving with the pulleys, to engage with eitherone or the other of the stationary clutch members 68 and 69. 74 and.75

. designate belts or other suitable means passing around on the upper reel 56 and is passed down between rolls 51 and 52, back of the curve roll 65, past the optical center, back of ti 1c curved roll 64 between the sprocket drum 43 and the roller 45 to the receiving @157, it

being understood that a suitable curve or curved contour is given to the band at the optical center and the,

teeth on the drum 43 engage suitable openingsadjacent the edge of the band. When now the handle 23 is operated in order to feed the band, the clutch member 72 is forced into engagement with the clutch member 68 which is connected with the shaft 19 so that the latter is rotated and carries with it the refracting body 10, so that the same presents its different surfaces in the optical center in suitable relation with respect to the movement of the band or picture so that the same will be properly reflected or refracted in the desired manner. handle 23 is rotated, the parts are in the position seen in Fig. 1, the belt 75 will be in engagement with the fixed pulley 80 and as the,same is mounted on the shaft 58 it rotates the same carrying with it the roll of film on reel 57 and thus-the band will be drawn down. The belt 74 at the same time has been shifted to the loose pulley 78 which revolves without carrying "with it shaft 59 or reel 56, said reel 56 being actuated by the picture band being drawn down by drum 43.

I Should it necessary or desirable to rewind the band for any reason upon. the'roll 56.,by rotating the ha'ndle in the oppositedirection, thepitch of the teeth of the It will he noted that as theclutch member will follow the teeth on the clutch 68 over the clutch 72 so that the clutch members 73' and 69 will engage,'.when in 69 the belt 74 will be on the fixed pulley 77, while the belt 75 will be on the loose pulley 79 in which event the reel 57 will beactuated only as the sprocket drum 43 draws the hand therefrom in order to supply the machine with the necessary pictures to be taken up by the reel 56.

During the operation of the-device, it will be noted that by reason of the train of gears, the motion is imparted to the drum 43, it being understood that the gears ,34, 35 and'40 are always in mesh-by reason of the links 37'and 38, so that, continued motion will be imparted to the drum 43 as is necessary. It is further apparent that by the curving of the faces of the refracting body-10,-the rays,of light entering said body (from the picture band at the-optical'center) are bent towards the axis of the objective lensinstead of being distributed outside of the lens tube and thereby causing said lensto fail to properly focus on the screen,

resulting in blur and distortioin .(This defect is.

machine, or when viewing the pictures only. In this This additional defect, is overcome by placing in front of said body a stationary cylindrical'lens' 10 of the proper focus (as seen at Fig. 6) which onlarges the picture once more to its proper proportions. -The refracting bodies are preferably though not necessarily of cylindrical shape faces. 1

I Having thus described my i'nvention, what I claim I as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:'

1. In a moving picture apparatus, a lens, teed mechanism for a picture band, a revoiuble solid refractive body having curved surfaces, adjacent ones of which are at an angle to each other, and means for raising or lowering said feed mechanism independently of 'the' optical center of the lens. f r

2. In a device of the character described, a feeddrun? having projections thereon to engage with a band, gearing for driving said roiler, links'between said feed drum and gearing, a movable frame carrying one of the gears on the.

shaft of which the feed drum is mounted, means whereby said shaft limits the movement of said frame and a screwthreaded rod operative'iy connected with said frame for ,varying the angle of the links.

3. In a device of the character described, an objective lens, a picture band feedmec'hanism embodying a feed sprocket roller, a solid body of refractive material disposed between the objective lens and the picture band and having a series of surfaces curved upon a diflerent radius from the radius of said body, and means for moving the feed roller vertically independently of the driving mechanism.

.4. In a device of the character described, feed mechanism for'apicture band, means for raising and lowering the same independently of'the driving mechnnism,-projecting 6. in a moving picture apparatus, the combination of means for moving a picture' band, and a revoluble solid body of refractive material mounted in the optical center of the apparatus and having a series of surfaces curved upon a diflerent radius from the radius of the said body.

7 In a moving picture apparatus, the means for actuating a picture hand or surface, of a solid body of refractive material having curved faces, and a stationary lens in the optical axis, of retracting power opposite to that of the solid body. a

s. in a moving picture apparatus, the combination with means for actuating a picture band or surface, of a solid body of refractive material having curved faces, a stationary lens in the optical axis, of refractive power opposite to that of the solid body, and means for raising and lowering the feed mechanism independently of the optical center of the lens.

combination with i 9. In a device of the character described, means for driving a picture band embodying a train of gears, a fccd drum and its shaft, a movable frame, in which said shaft is mounted, said shaft carrying one of the said gears and limiting the movement of said frame, and means embodying links operatlvely connected with the said frame for varying the position of the picture band drivingmechanism with reference to the optical center of the apparatus.

10. in a device of the character described, a storage roller, a takeaip roller, shafts upon which said rollers are mounted, tixed and loose pulleys on each of said shafts, and belts adapted to be in engagement \'ith a loose pulley on one shaft and a fixed pulley on the other shaft altcrnately,

11. in a device of the character described, a storage roller, a take-up roller, shafts upon which said rollers are mountcd, fast. and loosepulleys upon each of said shafts, a plurality oi belts adapted to be engaged with either the fast or loose pulleys on said shafts, a driving shaft cluich members thereon, and pulleys around which said belts pass, said pulleys'carrying clutch members mounted for movement'into engagement with the first-mentioned clutch members.

108, BIANCIII.

Witnesses R. S. CHILTON, Jn, E. Mariana. 

